The Pontiac District #429 Board of Education met at Pontiac Junior High School Monday evening, beginning with a tour of the school. Principal Judy Donze showed board members some highlights of what would be the administration’s wish list for the facility if the one-cent sales tax increase were passed in April. Some of those improvements include fixing bathrooms, obtaining new lockers in some parts of the school, work on ceilings and work in the gymnasium, to name a few.

The board approved a 10-cent increase to meal fees.

The new fees for the 2013-14 school year include breakfast at $1.20 at the grade schools and $1.25 at the junior high and lunch will be $2.20 at the grade schools and $2.30 at the junior high. Superintendent Kevin Lipke explained that there was a 40-cent difference between what paying students and staff were charged as compared to what the state reimburses for every free meal the school submits. Raising meal costs 10 cents for next year would help close the gap, the superintendent said.

The board tabled action regarding contributions to the Sports Boosters and Band Savers programs. It was previously suggested contributing $17,000 to each program for the 2013-14 school year.

Some of the discussion included the fact that the current budgets are very different from one another and because of that, shouldn’t get an equal contribution. Another argument is that students are graded on programs facilitated by Band Savers, but not through the Sports Boosters.

Lipke was asked to provide more information about both of the programs’ budgets at the next meeting for more discussion and possible board action.

Based on action taken in February to reinstate physical education programs, as well as two extra support programs at the Junior High, the board approved posting positions for three physical education teachers, one Explore teacher and one reading improvement teacher, as well as creating a new line item in the Junior High Activity Account for the purpose of collecting donations for Relay for Life.

It was also approved, as has been for the past few years, to give an honorable dismissal for band teacher Laura Ramseyer. Since she is paid primarily through Band Savers, this has been the action of the board since the music programs were cut, as she is rehired in the fall pending Band Savers paying a portion of her salary.

The board also agreed to employ April Schneeman as a special education homebound instructor for 2012-13, as well as employed track coaches Lori Schrock, Brian Durham, Albert Torrez and Kelly Fogarty. Donze said the four coaches would be heading up a track team of more than 100 junior high students.

The resignation of Mary effective the end of the 2016-17 school year and the resignation of Amanda Andrews, a cross-categorical special education teacher, were accepted.

Page 2 of 2 - During Lipke’s administrative report, he touched on more bad news from the state of Illinois concerning another decrease of state funding.

“During (Gov. Pat Quinn’s) State of the State address, the governor called for an 82 percent proration. If you take 82 percent of $6,119 (funds allocated per student), that’s what we’ll be getting in general state aid for next year. I anticipate it’s going to be a shortfall of about $250,000,” Lipke explained.

He also added that the governor wants to cut transportation to 19 percent, not by 19 percent, which would make a difference of $300,000 to $400,000 for one year. He said that some lawmakers don’t think that that part of the budget will pass, but the governor has said numerous times that parents, not the government, should be responsible for their children’s way back and forth to school.

Also at the meeting, Donze reported that the Illinois Standardized Achievement Tests were finished and took a little extra time due to the snow days the district had in the middle of testing. She also praised the Operation Snowflake program held recently at the school.

Special Education director Cheryl Corrigan explained to the board in her report that the preschool screenings went well and thanked all of the volunteers.

Principals Kel Krenz and Mike Weaver both talked about the upcoming PTO fundraiser, where students will be selling Fanny May products. Krenz talked about the successful Family Reading Night and Weaver praised the Peers in Action “Spread the Word to End the Word” program and the poster contest winners.

The new District #429 website is up and running and can be accessed at www.pontiac429.org. Lipke also suggests people log on to www.onecentliv.com to learn more about the one-cent sales tax increase on general merchandise that will be on the April 9 ballot.